CHICOPEE— This week firefighters with the Chicopee Fire Department are being trained on their new ladder truck, after the city decided to replace an older one, saying it was becoming unsafe to use.

Chicopee Mayor John Vieau and the city council approved the 1.2 million dollars needed to replace the old ladder truck which has been with the fire department for more than 15 years. The new apparatus is similar to the one it's replacing and extends 101 feet tall. Although there are no high rise buildings in Chicopee, the department says the ladder is necessary to reach a building, or building occupants from the roadway in the event of a fire or rescue. 

"Our last ladder truck was a 2005 and it was really rusting out and becoming unsafe so this is a really important purchase for us to replace that ladder truck," said Lt. Katie Kalbaugh, public information officer for Chicopee Fire Department. "We are really grateful to the mayor and city council for approving the funding for this. We are so glad it is here. It was a long wait. We were glad that our other truck did hold out for us to replace it but it is definitely worth the wait and it's a great day to have this new vehicle."

This new truck, Ladder 5, will be going to station 5 in Willimansett, located on Chicopee Street.